Judges 14:1-9
But his father and mother said to him, “Is there not a woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.” – Judges 14:3
Click to read the passage
When we read about Samson, it’s easy to get caught up in the drama of his life. He was incredibly strong, unstoppable in battle—a bit like a superhero. But if we take a closer look at this passage, we’ll quickly see that this “hero” came with serious flaws right from the start.
At the beginning of Judges 14, Samson goes down to Philistine territory, sees a pagan woman, and insists on marrying her—completely ignoring God’s command against marrying foreigners (Deut. 7:3–4). Not long after, he scoops honey out of a lion’s carcass and eats it. He even gives some to his parents without telling them where it came from. What he did wasn’t just gross—it was a serious violation of God’s laws for both Nazirites and all Israelites regarding cleanness and holiness.
In Leviticus 11, God gave the Israelites detailed laws about clean and unclean foods. These laws weren’t about eating healthier or having a more orderly life. Their real purpose was to help the people understand their identity—they belonged to God and were called to be holy. God said to them, “Be holy, because I am holy” (Lev11:44). In other words, these food laws were meant to be a daily reminder of their spiritual identity. Every time they said “no” to unclean food, they were saying “yes” to a life of holiness.
The Israelites received these laws at Mount Sinai, before they entered the land of Canaan. The laws were meant to shape their identity as God’s holy people, set apart from the Egyptians, Canaanites, and other idol-worshiping nations. But after entering Canaan, they quickly began to blend in, ignoring God’s warnings and forgetting who they were.
Samson was no exception. In fact, he was supposed to be different from birth. Judges 13:5 tells us that he was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from the womb. That means he was set apart in a special way to serve God wholeheartedly. But instead of living out that calling, Samson repeatedly broke his vow, disregarded his identity, and treated God’s commands with contempt. This wasn’t just selfish—it showed a deep indifference and pride. Samson cared more about satisfying his own desires than honouring God’s holiness.
Sound familiar? We often act like Samson, too. We treat the boundaries of our faith as optional guidelines instead of God’s commands. In our pursuit of success, reputation, or relationships, we quietly allow “small sins” to creep in: shady financial decisions, little lies in relationships, or compromising our beliefs just to fit in. Like Samson, we dress these choices up to look harmless—even sweet. But they’re more like honey from a lion’s carcass—touched by death and impurity.
Samson was a failed saviour. But the One he pointed to—Jesus, the true and perfect Nazirite—lived a life of complete obedience to the Father. Jesus was perfectly holy, and at the cross, He took on our unholiness—our Samson-like compromises—so that we could be restored as God’s holy people. Through His death and resurrection, we are called once again to live as people set apart for God.
God isn’t just looking for external cleanness—He desires inward renewal. Every day, He invites us by His grace to remember who we are: not citizens of this world, but sons and daughters of the living God. And even in the most ordinary moments—when we eat, work, or interact with others—we can live in a way that’s different from the world, and show the world who our Lord truly is.
Reflection:
Are there areas in your daily life where, like Samson, you’ve grown used to compromise or ignoring sin? What habits might be quietly weakening your identity and witness as a disciple of Christ?
Prayer:
Dear God, I admit that I often act like Samson—treating Your call to holiness lightly and chasing after my own desires. Please forgive me and help me stop making excuses for my sin. Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus, to fulfil the law perfectly and making me a new creation through His sacrifice. By Your Spirit, remind me daily of who I am, so I can live out Your holy calling in every part of my life, bringing glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Click to read the passage
When we read about Samson, it’s easy to get caught up in the drama of his life. He was incredibly strong, unstoppable in battle—a bit like a superhero. But if we take a closer look at this passage, we’ll quickly see that this “hero” came with serious flaws right from the start.
At the beginning of Judges 14, Samson goes down to Philistine territory, sees a pagan woman, and insists on marrying her—completely ignoring God’s command against marrying foreigners (Deut. 7:3–4). Not long after, he scoops honey out of a lion’s carcass and eats it. He even gives some to his parents without telling them where it came from. What he did wasn’t just gross—it was a serious violation of God’s laws for both Nazirites and all Israelites regarding cleanness and holiness.
In Leviticus 11, God gave the Israelites detailed laws about clean and unclean foods. These laws weren’t about eating healthier or having a more orderly life. Their real purpose was to help the people understand their identity—they belonged to God and were called to be holy. God said to them, “Be holy, because I am holy” (Lev11:44). In other words, these food laws were meant to be a daily reminder of their spiritual identity. Every time they said “no” to unclean food, they were saying “yes” to a life of holiness.
The Israelites received these laws at Mount Sinai, before they entered the land of Canaan. The laws were meant to shape their identity as God’s holy people, set apart from the Egyptians, Canaanites, and other idol-worshiping nations. But after entering Canaan, they quickly began to blend in, ignoring God’s warnings and forgetting who they were.
Samson was no exception. In fact, he was supposed to be different from birth. Judges 13:5 tells us that he was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from the womb. That means he was set apart in a special way to serve God wholeheartedly. But instead of living out that calling, Samson repeatedly broke his vow, disregarded his identity, and treated God’s commands with contempt. This wasn’t just selfish—it showed a deep indifference and pride. Samson cared more about satisfying his own desires than honouring God’s holiness.
Sound familiar? We often act like Samson, too. We treat the boundaries of our faith as optional guidelines instead of God’s commands. In our pursuit of success, reputation, or relationships, we quietly allow “small sins” to creep in: shady financial decisions, little lies in relationships, or compromising our beliefs just to fit in. Like Samson, we dress these choices up to look harmless—even sweet. But they’re more like honey from a lion’s carcass—touched by death and impurity.
Samson was a failed saviour. But the One he pointed to—Jesus, the true and perfect Nazirite—lived a life of complete obedience to the Father. Jesus was perfectly holy, and at the cross, He took on our unholiness—our Samson-like compromises—so that we could be restored as God’s holy people. Through His death and resurrection, we are called once again to live as people set apart for God.
God isn’t just looking for external cleanness—He desires inward renewal. Every day, He invites us by His grace to remember who we are: not citizens of this world, but sons and daughters of the living God. And even in the most ordinary moments—when we eat, work, or interact with others—we can live in a way that’s different from the world, and show the world who our Lord truly is.
Reflection:
Are there areas in your daily life where, like Samson, you’ve grown used to compromise or ignoring sin? What habits might be quietly weakening your identity and witness as a disciple of Christ?
Prayer:
Dear God, I admit that I often act like Samson—treating Your call to holiness lightly and chasing after my own desires. Please forgive me and help me stop making excuses for my sin. Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus, to fulfil the law perfectly and making me a new creation through His sacrifice. By Your Spirit, remind me daily of who I am, so I can live out Your holy calling in every part of my life, bringing glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.